Environmental Science

Presentation
Water Testing
by: Lawrence Khournso, Danny Zurita, Arron Reyes,
Wattana Laoharoj, Brian Bourque

Lower Arroyo

damp area with thick vegetation

cool areas with shades under the freeway
slow to moderate flow of water with little stagnation
small ponds at certain depths
home to certain species of ducks (mallards)
seemingly putrid water
not heavily impacted by trash

Water Sample 1
Data
pH:10.8
Temp (Celsius) :18.1
Salinity (ppt): 1.2
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 13.5
Nitrates (mg/l): 1.02
Phosphates (mg/l): 0.73
Flow Rate (m/s): .03125

Water Sample 2
Data
pH: 7.32
Temp (Celsius) : 17.3
Salinity (ppt): 1.7
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 3.89
Nitrates (mg/l): 0.85
Phosphates (mg/l): 0.79
Flow Rate (m/s): 0.0593

Water Sample 3
Data
pH: 8.3
Temp (Celsius) : 18
Salinity (ppt): 1.4
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 10.36
Nitrates (mg/l): 1.2
Phosphates (mg/l): 1.55
Flow Rate (m/s): 0.1481

Hahamongna Watershed Park

Hahamongna watershed park was, at first glance, a very dry sandy place.
Located in pasadena, this basin has a large amount of sediment and debris,
and currently an activist group is trying to stop the big dig which would
basically be an inconvenience for our environment and the town that
Hahamongna is located in. When we hiked up the creek, we noticed that
there were large amounts of sand, but even debris and litter. The first little
stream that we tested had a relatively low amount of phosphates, in
comparison to the second site that we tested, which had .5 mg/l, the highest
level of nitrates out of all three of our areas that we tested. The flow rate
was also pretty low, which could explain why why the level of nitrates was so
high in that specific area. Also the second area that we tested had a good
amount of algae, and a good amount of trash littered all around it. The third
site we went too had a low level of nitrates, and the flow of water was much
higher than that of the second test area.

Water Sample 1
Data
pH:8.30
Temp (Celsius) :18.6 C
Salinity (ppt): 32.0ppt
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 12.71ppm
Nitrates (mg/l):
Phosphates (mg/l): 19.4
Flow Rate (m/s): 4.51 sec/m

Water Sample 2
Data
pH: 8.38
Temp (Celsius) : 16.10 C
Salinity (ppt): 32.0ppt
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 12.4ppm
Nitrates (mg/l):
Phosphates (mg/l): 22.4
Flow Rate (m/s): 4.83 sec/m

Water Sample 3
Data
pH: 8.23
Temp (Celsius) :17.9 C
Salinity (ppt): 32ppt
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 12.4ppm
Nitrates (mg/l):
Phosphates (mg/l): 18.5
Flow Rate (m/s): 2.9 sec

LA River

Thick plantation
Wetlands setting
Moderate water flow (no stagnation)
Clean water
Moderately impacted by human pollution

Water Sample 1
Data
pH: 10.11
Temp (Celsius) : 21.3
Salinity (ppt): 10.72
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 13.2
Nitrates (mg/l): 1.78
Phosphates (mg/l): 15.2
Flow Rate (m/s): 0.125

Water Sample 2
Data
pH: 10.34
Temp (Celsius) : 19.9
Salinity (ppt): 11.2
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 13.74
Nitrates (mg/l): 1.8
Phosphates (mg/l): 16.9
Flow Rate (m/s): 0.1628

Water Sample 3
Data
pH: 10.42
Temp (Celsius) : 19.7
Salinity (ppt): 10.14
Dissolved Oxygen (%): 14.2
Nitrates (mg/l): 2.4
Phosphates (mg/l): 15.8
Flow Rate (m/s): 0.0857

Long Beach

Mouth of the LA river

Heavily impacted by civilization
Large-scale operational machineries
Beach
Man-made islands

Water Sample 1
Data
pH: 8.9
Temp (Celsius) : 19.4
Salinity (ppt): 28.1
Dissolved Oxygen (%): NA
Nitrates (mg/l): 0.68
Phosphates (mg/l): 5.5
Flow Rate (m/s): 7.55

Water Sample 2
Data
pH: 8.03
Temp (Celsius) : 18
Salinity (ppt): 31.6
Dissolved Oxygen (%): NA
Nitrates (mg/l): 0.51
Phosphates (mg/l): 10.2
Flow Rate (m/s): 7.68

Water Sample 3
Data
pH: 8.03
Temp (Celsius) : 18.3
Salinity (ppt): 34.1
Dissolved Oxygen (%): NA
Nitrates (mg/l): 0.77
Phosphates (mg/l): 4.1
Flow Rate (m/s): 11.35

Data Explanation
pH: A scale of 0-14 on how acidic or basic the water is, it measures the concentration of hydrogen.
U.S natural water should be between 6.5-8.5, optimum pH for rivers should be 7.4.
Very high pH makes it unable for life to be sustained, Low pH harms immature fish and insects.
Dissolved oxygen: Essential for survival of aquatic organisms, usually produced by aquatic plants
through photosynthesis, low flow rate and high turbidity lowers dissolved oxygen, bacteria that
decompose plants take up dissolved oxygen, too much dissolved oxygen is bad and usually is caused
by uncontrollable plant growth from eutrophication. Best dissolved oxygen would be 100% saturation
which is 9.03 mg/l at 20 degrees celsius on sea level.
Temperature: temperature relates to the metabolism of aquatic life, rate of photosynthesis in the
water,solubility of oxygen, and also sensitivity to diseases and toxins. The higher the temperature is
plants grow and die faster which takes up dissolved oxygen.

Nitrates
As decomposition of plants and animal occurs, dissolved oxygen levels decrease, this will
cause nitrate levels to increase. Normally, only small amounts of nitrates are found
naturally, but an increase in nitrate levels can come from man-made sources such as
septic systems, fertilizer runoff and improperly treated wastewater.
Nitrates in river water often ranges from 0.01-3.0 mg/L.

1.0 mg/L is considered excellent.

1.1-3.0 mg/L is considered good.
3.1-5.0 mg/L is considered fair.
greater than 5.0 mg/L is considered poor and unsafe for drinking
exceeding 10.0 mg/L may cause methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome)

An increase in nitrates may cause an increase in phosphate levels, which leads to an

excess of plant growth and decomposition. Dissolved oxygen levels decrease and
negatively affect the quality of aquatic animal life. High nitrite levels can cause serious
illnesses in fish.

Phosphates
Phosphates are usually present in the environment in low concentrations, which limits plant
growth. High phosphate levels can come from man-made sources such as septic systems,
fertilizer runoff and improperly treated waste-water. An increase in nitrate levels may cause an
increase in phosphate levels.
A river should not exceed 0.1 mg/L phosphates. Phosphates exceeding these levels can be
very harmful. Optimal phosphate content of a watershed:

1.0 mg/L is considered excellent.

1.1-4.0 mg/L is good.
4.1-9.9 mg/L is fair.
greater than 10.0 mg/L is very poor.
higher than 0.03 mg/L contributes to increased plant growth.
above 0.1 mg/L may stimulate plant growth to surpass natural eutrophication rates.

As phosphates increase, there will be an excess of plant growth and decomposition. Algal
bloom caused by high phosphate levels can choke out other plants and completely take over
the water. Animals use phosphorous to conduct metabolic reactions and to produce bone.
Plants use phosphorous in order to grow.

Average Results Across Sites

(as represented by graphs)

Our LA River Plan

more soft bottom sites, less concrete

add more vegetation
divert water use
make ecological reserve rather than business to limit
human impact
public walkway, playground, space